Shimla, March 21 (IANS) The mercury rose across Himachal Pradesh Sunday with the maximum temperatures above average by four to 12 degrees Celsius. Shimla, called as the Queen of Hills by the British, saw a high of 25.4 degrees Celsius.

'Temperatures increased across the hill state due to lack of rain or snow in the past few weeks,' Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office here, told IANS.

He said Shimla's maximum temperature was 11 degrees Celsius above average for this time of the year.

While Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district saw a high of 11.4 degrees, Kalpa in Kinnaur recorded a temperature of 22.2 degrees.

'Keylong and Kalpa's maximum temperature was four degrees and 12 degrees respectively above the average temperature,' Singh added.

Solan town recorded a high of 31.4 degrees, Sundernagar in Mandi district 34.3 degrees, Bhuntar in Kullu district 30.5 degrees and Dharamsala in Kangra district 29.8 degrees Celsius.